Over the weekend, men from the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, Ondo State, discovered and destroyed 15,775 litres of stolen crude oil in the state’s Ilaje region.
According to Captain Wasuku Alushi, the base’s commanding officer, the anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT) patrol squad executed the operation, valuing the products at N13,251,000.
Commander Humphrey Nnaji, speaking on behalf of Alushi, stated that the items were destroyed in compliance with Operation Delta Safe on COT, a joint taskforce mission.
READ ALSO: Vessels destroyed by military to cover up crude oil theft evidence — Ned Nwoko
He highlighted that after receiving information on illegal bunkering within the axis, the squad followed and intercepted a wooden boat, commonly known as a “Cotonou,” that was carrying crude oil.
In the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the wooden boat was intercepted approximately 12 nautical miles (NM) off the coast of the nearby settlements of Obe and Ojumole. The crew abandoned the boat and ran away upon spotting navy personnel, he claimed.
He emphasised that the base will step up monitoring throughout the axis while reiterating its determination to eradicate the threat of COT and other crimes in Igbokoda and its surroundings.
